Gracing St Ives’ vibrant Fore Street, The Allotment Deli is the
place to pick up fresh-from-the-oven soda bread, creamy cheeses and
peppery pasties. The glass-fronted shop is not hard to miss, thanks
to its happy mish-mash of baskets brimming with all sorts of
organic fruit and vegetables. If, like us, you struggle to make an
appetising club sandwich, browse the impressive pre-made sarnie
selection. You’ll also find an entire range dedicated to those with
a gluten intolerance – we’ve heard the vegetable tart is well worth
a try.

An arcade in Cardiff might not be the first place that springs
to mind when hunting for fresh local produce, but hear us out.
Wally’s, located inside the popular Royal Arcade, is the epitome of
a traditional kaffeehaus. With floor-to-ceiling shelves stacked
with flavour-packed condiments, grains, spices and sweet treats
sourced from across the world (the Welsh chocolate remains our
favourite), there’s little that this place doesn’t serve. Head down
early enough and you can enjoy a continental breakfast before
ploughing through your shopping list.

Having first opened its doors back in 1944, Lina Stores has
become something of a landmark for hungry Londoners. Serving up a
true taste of Italy, the deli stocks everything from cured meats to
award-winning cheeses and pasta that will make you question any
ravioli that’s previously passed your lips. With 40 different types
of salumi to choose from, it can be somewhat overwhelming deciding
what to order, so we took a trip down to the sage-green coloured
oasis and scribbled down the essentials for you. Deep breath. Start
with a packet of the truffle salami, followed by a chunk of smoked
caciotta cheese and a jar of mixed olives. Then, you’ll want to
grab at least two rosemary focaccias and an Italian white sourdough
loaf. Can’t trust yourself to not buy the entire shop? Request one
of the ready-made hampers – they even come with a bottle of
bubbly.

A handsome foodie stable on the edge of Edinburgh’s Gayfield
Square, Valvona & Crolla is known among Scots as the best place
in the country for a fix of Italy’s famous flavours. Upon entering
the dimly lit set-up, you’ll find yourself beneath a ceiling clad
with pots and pans and packaged hams, a sea of region-specific
shelves before you. Browse Sicilian delights and boxes of Tuscan
magic, before flitting next door to Valvona & Crolla Caffè Bar,
whose fresh fish pastas are legendary.

Back in 2017, the thriving Cotswolds food scene gained a swish
new addition in the form of Fillet & Bone. Housed in a former
butcher’s shop, the 700-year-old honey-hued establishment underwent
something of a renaissance when husband-and-wife duo Chris Gates
and Pat Willins got to work on it. Inside, you’ll find a pantry,
dairy counter and an in-house butchery – as well as trophy-worthy
fruit and veg. Given its name, it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise
that freshly caught fish is also available. The scallops, in
particular, are sensational.

Located in the thick of the action on Hackney’s Southgate Road,
this N1 address makes it hard to actually get to your picnic: if
you’re not careful, you might just spend the entire afternoon
gawking at the array of fine produce. De Beauvoir Deli feels more
like someone’s grandmother’s kitchen than a place to come and pick
up your fruit and veg: think black-and-white chequered flooring,
duck egg-blue units and an island piled high with crusty baguettes
and tomatoes bigger than your face. Help yourself, buffet-style, to
the likes of couscous, potato salad and grilled cauliflower. In a
hurry? Locals rave about the picnic hamper delivery service –
especially the Spanish-inspired basket.

Prone to “hanger”? This Sussex shop will sort you out. An hour’s
drive from Brighton’s seafront, The Hungry Guest is not your
average deli. In fact, it has its own in-house baker, butcher,
cheesemonger and fishmonger, all eager to discuss both the origin
of their locally sourced goods and what makes for the perfect
picnic. No wonder this place won UK Delicatessen of the Year in
2015 and 2016. You’ll find us loitering in the sweet treats aisle,
eyeing up the mountains of brownies and platters of sticky cinnamon
rolls.